Industrialization in the early 20th century changed warfare in fundamental ways. Technological innovations during World War I, made possible by industrialization, made war more destructive than ever before. At the same time, medical and scientific advancements helped save lives. In this building block inquiry, students explore both the destructive and constructive costs of industrialization on the military during World War I.
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About the inquiry
Compelling Question
What did military industrialization cost the US?
Standards
D2.His.14.9-12. Analyze multiple and complex causes and effects of events in the past.
Instructional Snapshot
Class begins with the teacher displaying an image of a modern factory assembly line. As a class, students brainstorm ways mass production impacted warfare.
Next, the teacher divides students into small groups and distributes a copy of the Source Set to each group. Working together, students evaluate each image and determine whether the innovation shown represents a constructive cost (saves lives) or a destructive cost (causes damage). Then, students assign each innovation a numeric cost score on their graphic organizer.
After evaluating the sources, students calculate the final cost score by adding the scores they assigned to each innovation. The teacher may need to remind students to include the negative sign for each destructive cost when finding the sum of the values. Based on their calculated final cost score, students summarize the cost of industrialization on the military.
Formative Tasks
COLLABORATE: Brainstorm how mass production impacted warfare.
DELIBERATE: Evaluate each innovation and assign it a numeric cost score. Add the individual cost scores to calculate your final cost score.
PRODUCE: Summarize the cost of industrialization on the military based on final cost scores.
Sources
Source Set: Technology during World War I
Summative Performance Task
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Taking Informed Action
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